Hawks Win 2024 NBA Draft Lottery as Fans Debate Donovan Clingan, Alex Sarr, Risacher

Let the debate begin for Atlanta Hawks fans.

Atlanta will be selecting first in the 2024 NBA draft after the lottery results were revealed Sunday.

Last year, winning the lottery was a cause for celebration for the San Antonio Spurs because it meant the franchise was poised to land a transcendent talent in Victor Wembanyama. There simply isn't that kind of prospect sitting in the 2024 NBA draft class, and there isn't even a wide consensus on which player stands out from the rest.

The NBA G League Ignite's Ron Holland ranked No. 1 overall on the most recent big board for Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, up from being fourth in January.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the Hawks didn't profile as a team seriously in play for the top pick. They qualified for the play-in tournament and had just a 3 percent chance of winning the lottery. The front office might need to take a crash course in scouting the best stars.

There's plenty of conversation over who the Hawks might target, assuming they don't use their first-round pick to acquire a ready-made star to pair with Trae Young. UConn center Donovan Clingan, JL Bourg wing Zaccharie Risacher and Perth Wildcats big man Alex Sarr are some of the early favorites.

Of course, Atlanta could trade Young altogether, in which case winning the lottery might be what leads the organization to pursue a wider rebuild. NBA insider Marc Stein reported in April there are people in the NBA who believe one of Young or Dejounte Murray will be traded and that the former is the piece the Hawks would prefer to move.

One way or another, it should be an eventful summer.